| Summer is almost upon us and with that comes the | | | | This might not be a vehicle just or cruising around in, |
| desire for many to go camping or travel. Maybe you | | | | but if you are somebody who is towing a lot, you |
| are ready to purchase that travel trailer or camper. If | | | | certainly won't have to worry about its capabilities. |
| so, you are also probably considering whether your | | | | 2. Nissan Armada: Yes Nissan, they have come |
| vehicle can tow or what it can tow? | | | | up with a SUV that can tow just over 9,000 |
| The industry states that compact trucks can tow | | | | pounds. The Armada is also a large vehicle, which |
| between 3,000 and 7,000 pounds, depending on how | | | | means it has a ton of interior space. The Armada is |
| they're equipped. Full-size trucks can tow as much as | | | | the Nissan's first entry in the SUV segment. It was |
| 12,000 pounds with certain engines and suspension | | | | originally called the Pathfinder Armada. The Armada |
| configurations, although most range between 8,000- | | | | comes with a V8 engine. |
| and 10,000-pound capacities. The best way to | | | | 3. GMC Sierra 1500: This vehicle has a |
| determine what your vehicle can tow is by calculating | | | | 9,990-pound rating. To get more capability than the |
| the gross vehicle weight or GVW. A GCWR is a | | | | Sierra, you have to step up to a heavy-duty series |
| gross combination weight rating that takes into | | | | truck from Dodge, Ford or Chevy. |
| consideration the weight of your vehicle and what | | | | 4. Dodge Durango: The Durango is not a full-size |
| you are towing. This means you will need to know | | | | SUV, but can tow up to 8,950 pounds. Its tow rating |
| the gross trailer weight or GTW. Is the trailer fully | | | | exceeds that of GM's full-size SUVs. The Durango is |
| loaded or empty? There is much to take into | | | | also large enough to double as a family car. |
| consideration when combining all of these values to | | | | 5. Ford Expedition: The Expedition, another SUV, |
| determine whether you have the right towing | | | | is bigger than the Durango but has the same towing |
| capacity. | | | | capacity. It has a 60/40-split, fold-flat third-row seat, |
| Finding out your gross trailer weight (GTW) can be | | | | which gives it a lot of room inside. |
| as simple as driving your trailer onto a scale. Many | | | | 6. Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon XL: The |
| communities have public scales and for just a few | | | | half-ton Suburban 1500 can pull up to 8,400 pounds. It |
| dollars and a few minutes of your time, you can get | | | | also has a lot of passenger/cargo space. The |
| the answers you're looking for. There are just a few | | | | three-quarter-ton 2500 model will give you even |
| simple steps that you'll need to follow in order to get | | | | more towing capacity with a load of up to 12,000 |
| an accurate gross trailer weight reading. | | | | pounds. |
| When preparing to weigh everything, disconnect the | | | | 7. Land Rover Range Rover: If you are in the |
| trailer from your tow vehicle. You want to find the | | | | market for a luxury vehicle that tows, The Range |
| weight of the trailer alone. The weight of the trailer | | | | Rover can tow up to 7,700 pounds. Of course it also |
| will include the trailer tongue. You can weigh your | | | | has beautiful interior and style to boot. |
| trailer empty or fully loaded - depending on what | | | | 8. Chrysler Pacifica: When it comes to cars, the |
| number you are looking for. By starting empty, you | | | | towing capacity drops but if you are somebody who |
| always know the base weight of the trailer and | | | | doesn't want a truck or SUV, then the Pacifica is |
| about how much weight you can add to it. | | | | worth looking at. This vehicle can tow up to 3,500 |
| If you don't want to take the time to weigh your | | | | pounds and it is a nice luxury sedan for other uses. |
| trailer, you can contact the manufacturer of the | | | | 9. Hyundai Elantra: Believe it or not, the Elantra |
| trailer as they should be able to provide you with the | | | | offers 3,086 pounds of towing capacity when trailer |
| weight. | | | | brakes are used (without the brakes, it tops out at |
| Now for a vehicle that can pull the weight you have. | | | | 1,000 pounds). That's not much by truck standards, |
| Edmunds put together a list of what it considers the | | | | but for a budget-priced compact sedan, it's |
| top ten vehicles for towing. Of course most of this | | | | exceptional. Note that this is 1,000 pounds more than |
| list isn't extensive and most of the vehicles on it are | | | | full-size sedans like the Cadillac DeVille and Mercury |
| large, which means their fuel economy isn't the best - | | | | Grand Marquis are rated to carry. |
| but that is to be expected. Some of the vehicles on | | | | 10. Subaru Outback: This little car can tow up to |
| the list don't tow large amounts of weight as they | | | | 3,000-pounds. Having an all-wheel-drive system also |
| are midsized cars, but are durable enough to haul | | | | helps to get you back into those remote campsites. |
| your favorite jet skis or four wheelers. So what is | | | | If you still have questions about the towing capacity |
| the list? | | | | of your truck or a potential vehicle that you are |
| 1. Dodge Ram 3500: This is a big vehicle and has | | | | looking to buy, talk to your dealer. Tell them what |
| the largest towing capacity of all the vehicles on this | | | | your needs are and let them help you measure |
| list. With more than 16,000 pounds of towing | | | | everything out. |
| capacity, it tops the list by more than 2,000 pounds. | | | | |